John Michael Peila Jr., better known as Jack, passed away Sept. 23. He was five days shy of reaching his 94th birthday.

Jack was born Sept. 28, 1924, at the family ranch near Meeker, Colo., where he was delivered by his aunt. The Meeker ranch was sold later, and his family moved to Lakewood, Colo., where they operated a dairy. They milked 40 cows by hand at 3 a.m. and 3 p.m., and the milk was sold for $.08 per quart. His 9-year-old brother, Wendall, drove the milk delivery truck. In addition to the dairy, they also ran beef cattle, so there was never a shortage of work.

Jack was a competitor. In high school, he was a three-sport athlete, competing in football, wrestling, and track. He qualified for the Colorado State High School track meet as a mid-distance runner. Jack earned a football scholarship to Colorado State University and attended college for a year. However, rodeo was his real passion!

At 15 years of age, he hitchhiked to his first rodeo. He mainly competed in bareback riding and bull riding, but would also calf rope and bull dog at the closer rodeos. His main mode of travel during this time was hitchhiking and occasionally (borrowing) a train ride. To help pay his entry fees while rodeoing, he worked for a stock contractor out of Idaho, rode horses, and braided bull ropes to sell. He later made bull ropes for his own kids when they took to the rodeo arena. Jack also periodically judged rodeos when he was recuperating from one rodeo injury or another. He regularly competed and placed in the Harney County Senior Team Branding at the fair, with his final performance just a few weeks shy of his 93rd birthday. He and Smoke Kayser (Lori Peila’s dad) won the event the first year it was held.

Jack joined the first professional rodeo cowboy association, called the Cowboys’ Turtle Association, which became the Rodeo Cowboy Association (RCA), in 1945, and now is known as the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA). It was while competing at the Denver Stock Show that he met his future wife, Theresa. She was a member of the press for KLZ radio station in Denver. When Jack noticed her in the press box, he boldly asked her to hold his dirty bull rope while he rode his bareback horse. This provided a great excuse to go back and officially meet her. Jack and Theresa went on their first date using his family’s milk-delivery truck for transportation. Thus began the courtship that resulted in marriage less than a year later.

Jack and Theresa were married June 25, 1946, at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Denver, Colo. They left following the reception for a rodeo, where they spent their honeymoon camped out on a lawn in a dusty sleeping bag that Jack pulled from the trunk of the car, much to Theresa’s surprise. This was the beginning of what the city girl from Denver had in store for her with the life of a cowboy.

Their first ranch was purchased in Cope, Colo., with Jack using his rodeo winnings to purchase heifers. After his second child was born, the decision was made to ranch full time instead of following the summer rodeo circuit. In 1949, he sold the Cope ranch and purchased a larger ranching operation on Moon Creek near Miles City, Mont. The family grew by an additional five children, yet the home had poor indoor plumbing and no electricity. With the oldest child approaching high school, Jack and Theresa had to be thinking about moving closer to a school where the children would not have to be boarded out. They also desired to have a larger ranch, and the Moon Creek area had limited opportunities for expansion. Thus began the search for a larger ranch.

In the spring of 1959, the family moved to Harney County and purchased a ranch from Burtt, Jo, Hollie, and Bub Schroder. The Schroder ranch came with some cattle, however, Jack’s heifers and saddle horses were sent by rail from Montana to Oregon. With the winter range located south of Burns and the summer range located near Wagontire, cattle were trailed horseback between the two down Highway 20/395. There were many hours in the saddle, and Jack relied on his children and sometimes an occasional friend or ranch hand. The practice of trailing cattle down the highway ended in the mid-1980s due to the increased traffic. A cattle truck was purchased for transporting the cattle. In Oregon, the family grew by three more daughters, and for the first time, they enjoyed electricity. Jack continued to acquire land and added Wagontire Mountain, Butte Valley, and several other properties. He was a self-made man and was proud of his ranch and accomplishments.

Jack’s passion for rodeo was passed on to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The family traveled to high school and junior rodeos all over the state. Jack could be found at the bucking chutes, helping not only his own kids, but others to get down on their horses or bulls. Jack served as President of the Western States Jr. Rodeo Association for several years. He was instrumental in establishing the first Harney County High School Rodeo in 1972, which was also the state finals. For many years, Jack donated roping livestock and awards for the Harney County Fair and was an avid 4-H supporter. He also served on the Fair Board, and he and Theresa were named Grand Marshals in 2009. Jack was also a Grassman of the Year recipient and served on the board of directors for Production Credit Association (PCA) for several terms.

For Jack, importance in life was in this order: God, family, and ranch. He was a life-long member of the Catholic Church and for years was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was very proud of his large family. Jack always enjoyed his time with family, and especially loved seeing the little ones. He took his commitment to Theresa seriously and devoted many years to caring for her. She was always his main concern, and he was proud of all her life accomplishments and felt she gave up many opportunities to marry him. Jack was a kind, compassionate person and always helped those in need, especially those that needed it the most. He will be remembered for his easy going personality and infectious smile. Jack, being a humble man, would be the last to speak of his legacy, but there is no denying his legacy of faith and family, will endure for generations.

Jack is survived by his wife of 72 years, Theresa; children, Susan (Larry) Otley, Linda (Derrald) Mann, Mike (Sallie) Peila, Mary Jo (Lou) Davies, Bill (Lori) Peila, Ann Ross, Nellie (Scott) Franklin, Katie (Keith) Baltzor, Margarita (Jon) White, and Toni (Mario) Recanzone; 32 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; sister, Catherine (Ray) Tracy of Stevensville, Mont.; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Alta; brothers, Joe and wife, Martha, and Wendall; sister, Barbara and husband, Nick Massaro; and son-in-law, Daryl Ross.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, and Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. Both will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Burns. A lunch and sharing of memories will immediately follow at the Burns Elks Lodge. A private family burial will take place on the ranch.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) and/or Right to Life.

LaFollette’s Chapel is in charge of arrangements.